Blogs

Aug 30, 2018
As a fairly new and small company in our niche B2B marketplace, we were faced with a challenge at our first ever conference: displaying our biggest differentiator – customer service. Many companies talk about how great their customer service is until they’re blue in the face but to potential customers, hearing about great service and experiencing it are two very different things. How would we show, rather than tell, that our customer service really was what we said? Our answer to this challenging problem was to provide actual customer service to conference attendees in a tangible way, right… more
Aug 28, 2018
Forbes recently published a terrific article entitled 3 Reasons Why CMOs Should Embrace Experiential Marketing. Lots of areas for agreement. But I think it could have gone a little deeper. When I get asked the “Why Experiential?” question, here’s my “rule of three” answer: The Power of DOING something: There is a great Chinese quote (often misattributed to Confucius) “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand” that social scientists have discovered to be true.  Both emotional and logical memory is vastly improved when someone physically engages with a person, an idea… more
Aug 23, 2018
Every event planner knows technology must be integrated into their events to sustain growth and meet the demands of an increasingly tech-savvy audience. Yet the specific needs of your attendees and exhibitors are often harder to identify amongst the countless options available. Understanding what technology makes sense for your audience goes a long way in pulling off a great meeting, conference or trade show. Continue reading to better understand the relationship between technology, exhibitors and attendees. Everyone Needs Reliable WiFi The foundation of any event—regardless of size—should… more
Aug 21, 2018
The theme of last weekend’s TSNN Awards was transformation, which is a common thread that links all shows together right now. The need to reimagine the trade show experience is not a new concept. But what I think is a new way to think about it, is the way the content itself is presented. The long-in-the-tooth formula of filling up convention centers with exhibitors, sprinkled with education offerings of regurgitated industry buzz – is simply no longer sustainable. It’s time for event organizers to put the show in trade shows. Organizers need to lead their exhibitors by example too, and… more
Aug 16, 2018
Trade shows are crucial to the growth of many businesses. They are competitive events but can lead to the successful business relationships. The key is to stand out in the right way at the trade show. When used effectively in a trade show setting, exhibits and displays can grow your business and bring it to the next level. How do you get the most value from your trade show display? Any company participating in a trade show and commissioning portable displays should first establish how they want to brand themselves. They can get a custom-made display or customize a pre-existing one, but this… more
Aug 14, 2018
Successful trade show marketing is about developing a media plan that aligns with and capitalizes on attendee behaviors in the market to accomplish a brand’s marketing goals. At a trade show, the focus of the attendees and exhibitors is the convention, but they also spend time outside of the convention center and their hotel. Since every city has its unique attractions and ways to get to those attractions, an effective market strategy for reaching those attendees must be equally unique. Getting There: How do attendees travel to the market? Each market around the country has different travel… more
Aug 09, 2018
I am often asked what giveaways are the most popular at trade shows. Event managers feel they should offer something but they are at a loss of what will draw people in so they can talk to them. However, they find that while giveaways were a good draw in the past, many of today’s show attendees are not interested in them. I have had multiple show-goers decline my offer of a giveaway because they don’t need it and this response has become much more frequent over the past three years. This is in line with the demographic changes we are seeing in our population. Millennials have become most of… more
Aug 07, 2018
Businesses large and small present their latest and the most futuristic gadgets at the biggest confabs like the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) each year. Over the last decade or so, LED has made its market in digital signage industry owing to low cost, better quality, smart fixtures and greater efficiency. The technology is expected to keep evolving in the years to come in terms of efficiency and affordability. Pulling off a successful trade show is an even greater challenge when you are catering to the consumers accustomed to disruptive advancements like… more
Aug 04, 2018
When planning an event there is one element that can make a huge difference to the atmosphere of the occasion – the lighting. The right lighting will direct attention to the most important areas of the space, create the desired mood and ultimately set the scene for the occasion, whether it is a conference, a trade show, a corporate occasion or a private party. To find out more about how lighting can make – or break – an event I spoke to events planners Julie Girgenti, owner of Exceptional Events and Ellen Davies, owner of LND Events. Here’s what they had to say: Setting the Tone Lighting… more
Aug 01, 2018
Virtual Reality (VR) is a powerful sales and marketing tool, and with a little planning, it can help your company become the focal point of any event. Of those that try VR, 81 percent say they tell their friends about the experience and 79 percent seek to try it again. These numbers illustrate the massive advantage VR has on every other form of media. It is fully immersive and therefore, the most engaging platform for trade show pitches.  Aside from the numbers and engagement statistics, VR trade show experiences give you unprecedented creative control over what your audience experiences.… more
Partner Voices
Here at Mandalay Bay, venues are inviting and innovative. As one of the most iconic names on the Las Vegas Strip, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center has recently undergone an exciting upgrade. This renowned venue now offers everything your business needs, with a refreshed convention space designed to inspire productivity and creativity, as well as an impressive selection of world-class restaurants and amenities. If you're searching for a venue that is both inviting and innovative, Mandalay Bay is the place to be. Mandalay Bay is committed to investing in a new wave of enhancements, not only in the convention space but also throughout the entire resort. With new restaurant openings and remodels, spectacular entertainment, and updated rooms, Mandalay Bay promises to deliver new and exciting experiences to its guests until 2024. To create a truly effective conference venue, Mandalay Bay has carefully considered what businesses require. The right technology, capacity, and inspiration are essential to take ideas to the next level. The refreshed Mandalay Bay Convention Center has been designed with your business in mind. Every room is equipped with newly-upgraded technology, enhancing our ability to support bandwidth demand and overall data capabilities. Additionally, the addition of 10 new digital walls provides bigger and more dynamic ways to display customized content messages. Mandalay Bay offers world-class conference space and service. The venue options range from ballrooms to ample pre-function spaces, catering to teams of any size while accommodating multiple large groups simultaneously. Our certified planners work collaboratively with you to understand your specific event requirements, anticipating your business needs and offering the best-fit solutions. In addition to providing exceptional conference facilities, Mandalay Bay is also dedicated to sustainability. We strive to give our guests an unforgettable experience while minimizing our impact on the environment. As part of our sustainable energy efforts, you'll find refillable water stations throughout the property, eliminating the need for single-use plastic bottles and reducing unnecessary plastic usage. Mandalay Bay is proud to offer an upgraded and enhanced experience for businesses seeking a venue that combines innovation, convenience, and sustainability. Whether you're hosting a conference, meeting, or other business event, Mandalay Bay's refreshed convention space, world-class service, and commitment to sustainability make it the ideal choice. Come and discover the new wave of experiences awaiting you at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip. Wherever your organization is going, getting there starts with being here.